Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use in Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation: Challenges and Solutions.

ABSTRACT: AF is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice, with a large preponderance in the older (>75 years) adult population. Stroke is the most feared complication of AF, with huge corresponding morbidity and mortality. Anticoagulation is the mainstay for stroke prevention in AF, but is commonly underutilised in clinical practice due to the fear of intracerebral bleeding. Bleeding is the primary concern in older patients with conventional vitamin K antagonist use. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been used for a decade in clinical practice and have been found to reduce major bleeds. The advantages of DOAC use in older patients include obviating the need for intermittent international normalised ratio monitoring, fewer drug interactions and reduction in intracerebral haemorrhage. The

SUBMITTER: Bhandari M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11904420 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature